February 2005
“Hello, Sara?” I ask tentatively. Josh said I should call her, but now that
she’s answered the phone I really don’t know what to say.
“Donna?” She replies. “Donna Moss is that you?”
“Yes, Sara. It’s Donna.” I find my voice.
“Is everything alright, dear? Are you alright?” She asks and I can hear
the concern in her voice. She really is a sweetheart.
“I’m fine, Sara, I promise….” Okay. Now what? “I…uh…When I spoke to
Josh yesterday, he told me-“
“You spoke to Josh? Yesterday?” Sara interrupts me.
“Yes, he was uh…tied up with some things and needed help.” I reply.
“And you helped him?” She confirms.
“I was passing by…” I hedge.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. That’s absolutely wonderful, Donna.” Sara
exclaims. “You have no idea how much he’s been missing you Donna.”
That comment floors me to speechlessness, so with no response on my
part, Sara continues on.
“He’s been complaining for months that a Presidential campaign just isn’t
the same without you. Now maybe things will go back to the way they
should be.”
“Sara, I think you misunderstood.” I finally manage. “Nothing’s really
changed. We’re in opposite camps. We just had a good conversation
yesterday and he mentioned you and…I guess it made me lonesome for
your voice.”
“Oh. Oh, I see.” I can hear her mood deflating in those four simple
words. “Well, there’s no need to be lonesome for my voice, Donna. I love
to hear from you. I would have called you, but…” she trails off, afraid to
mention my falling out with her son.
“I know. Me too. But it’s silly that we should miss talking to one another
just because Josh and I aren’t together anymore – I mean, working
together anymore.” Where the hell did that come from? Shit.
“That’s right.” Sara agrees. “Josh has acted like a jackass many times
before and that’s never stopped us from having our chats.”
“Exactly.” I nod my head even though she can’t see me.
“But you do realize that Bingo Bob is nothing but a stuffed shirt, right
Donnatella?” Sara floors me.
“Uh…I might be willing to admit that the Vice President doesn’t inspire
the same level of je ne sais quo that President Bartlet did.” I give a little
and I hear Sara chuckle. “I had to try this, Sara. I had to find out if I could
do this on my own…without him.”
There’s a long pause. “I think I understand.” She tells me. “Just as long
as you understand that Bingo Bob is never getting my vote.”
Now it’s my turn to chuckle. “I do. And between you and me? It wouldn’t
surprise me a bit if Josh pulls off this one in a million shot for the third
time in his life. Who’d have ever thought he could get President Bartlet
elected the first time? Or after MS? And now Congressman Santos?
Who’d believe it?”
“We would.” Sara says knowingly. “You and I always believed in him and
trusted his judgment.”
“Yeah…that’s never changed has it?” I sigh. “So…did you see me doing
battle with the chicken your addle-minded son sent to our event?”
Sara burst out laughing. “Josh sent me a tape…even though they
played it on TV…quite a bit.” She admits. “Whatever possessed you,
Donna?”
“I swear, Sara, I saw that chicken and I knew who’d sent it. It was like
Josh himself was in that costume and I…I just let him have it.”
“You sure did.” Sara concurs. “It was a ‘cheep’ stunt.” She laughs at her
own pun and I join in.
“Well, I’d better get moving. Now that Santos is surging I have my work
cut out for me.”
“Take care, Donna, and please call again soon. I like hearing from you.”
“I will. Bye Sara.” I click off and hit one of my saved numbers.
“Hello?”
“You’re voting for Santos, Mother?” I accuse.
“Well I…it’s just that…I can’t vote for Bingo Bob, Donna.” Mom tells me.
“Bingo Bob? Did Josh teach you that nickname?”
“Josh? How would I hear that from Josh? I know you’re not speaking and
I would never-“
“He told me he spoke to you, Mom.” I cut in.
There’s a pregnant pause. “He…told you personally? You’re talking
again?”
“Can we forget about my speaking to Josh for a minute and return to the
subject of you speaking to Josh?”
“Well, the first time was just, you know, to wish him luck on his campaign,
and then after that…”
“The FIRST time? Just how often have you been talking? And what do
you mean you called to wish HIM luck?”
“Are you going to let me answer or are you just going to keep spouting
questions at me?” Mom asks.
“How can you wish him luck when your own daughter is working on an
opposing campaign?”
“Donna, I love you with all my heart and if YOU were running, I’d vote for
you twice, but Bingo Bob…”
“Would you quit calling him that?” I interject.
“I’m simply saying that although you are doing an incredible job and I’m
very proud of YOU, as a Democrat I’m praying that someone else wins
the nomination; hopefully Josh.”
“You realize Josh isn’t actually running himself, right?” I drawl.
“Maybe he should.” Mom suggests.
“He wouldn’t make it a week before he stuck his foot in his mouth or blew
his temper.” I inform her.
“Maybe not if he had someone to help him; someone he knows and
trusts.” Mom opines. I know where this is going and it’s nowhere good.
“Right. Well since it looks like we’ve lost your vote, I need to go find
another one somewhere.”
“I love you, Donna. I’m glad you called.” Mom tells me. “And I am SO
proud of you.”
“Thanks Mom.” I say with tears in my eyes.
“Even when you’re fighting on national television with chickens.” She
concludes and I bang my head against the hotel room wall.
“Bye Mom.” I mutter and hang up the phone. Mothers are terribly
exhausting.